Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Most common problems with Android 6.0 Marshmallow on Nexus devices Google

Several Nexus device owners have been facing a spate of issues including installation problems, battery-life and charging problems, as well as a handful of performance hassles, ever since the release of Google's Android 6.0 Marshmallow update. Although Google has done extensive testing to clear out most of the inherent bugs in its latest software, a few untested bugs have been surfacing on numerous Nexus devices.

With Google unlikely to roll out the bug-fix update anytime soon, the Nexus users are currently left in the lurch with persistent issues leading to random reboots and other performance issues even on Google's flagship devices. Nevertheless, IBTimes UK brings the rundown of these issues along with possible fixes and troubleshooting steps that you can try, to resolve these issues right away.

Android 6.0 installation problems

It is reported that some Nexus users are experiencing random freezes and crashes during the Android 6.0 installation or upgrade, wherein the device gets stuck at the installation screen for no apparent reason.

If you are among the affected users, you can try discharging your phone's battery completely until it is dead, recharge it back to 100% and then try updating again. Then you can try erasing the device's cache partition, before you restart the installation process.

Here is how you can accomplish this feat:

  • Press and hold Power and Volume Down buttons together until the device reboots and gets past the Google screen.
  • Wait until you see a large arrow at the top of the screen.
  • Then tap Volume Down button repeatedly until the Recovery mode screen appears with the arrow symbol. At this moment, simply tap the Power button.
  • You will now see an Android on his back with its chest open and showing a red triangle with an exclamation mark on the screen.
  • Holding the Power button, tap Volume Up once and then release the Power button.
  • A list of items should now pop up at the top of screen.
  • Tap Volume Down until the option to erase or wipe the cache partition is highlighted. Then tap Power button once again to initiate the process.
  • A bunch of status messages should appear at the bottom of the screen. Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes for the process to complete and then you can restart the Nexus device.

Factory Reset

If the issue still persists, you can go ahead and factory reset your device. Here is how you do it:

Go to Settings > Personal > Backup and Reset. Enter your PIN or password if prompted and then choose Personal data > Factory data reset > Reset phone or Reset tablet.

You may need to enter the PIN or password again if prompted. Then tap on Erase everything to erase all data from the device's internal storage. Once the device is completely erased, just reboot your device.

Android 6.0 performance problems

Random stuttering and frequent lags while loading apps often points to low memory and processor resources, which can be regained by simply clearing the device's cache partition and quitting unwanted apps that are not in use. You can also cut down the number of widgets popping up on your home screen.

Android 6.0 App crashes and random reboots

Random reboots and App crashes could be a sign of corrupted file or incompatible versions installed on the device. Try updating your apps regularly and then clear up App data and cache by going to Settings > Apps > select clear data and cache.

If nothing else works, do a factory reset and then try downgrading from Android 6.0 to Android 5.0.

Android 6.0 charging problems

Charging problems have been frequently reported on Nexus devices and the most common reason could be a faulty charger or improper charging cycles. Always allow the device to discharge up to 90% of the battery charge, before you try recharging it to 100%.

Do not simply recharge the device when there is enough charge to work for a few minutes up to an hour. Always use the original battery charger for greater charging efficiency and battery charge retention. Alternatively, try using the USB cable if you suspect a faulty charger could be causing the problem.

If nothing else works, take a look at the official fix from Google as outlined in the video below:

Android 6.0 battery-life issues

Numerous Nexus users are reportedly affected with unexpected battery drain issues, following the Android 6.0 Marshmallow upgrade from Lollipop. Most common battery problems are often associated with power-hungry apps that drain your phone's battery faster than usual.

If you suspect your device's battery is draining faster than normal, then try isolating the faulty app by using the new Battery usage tool found under the device's Settings. This tool allows you to determine how much of battery charge each app or service is using including the camera and flashlight battery usage.

Once you have determined the root cause, you can kill the offending app or try reinstalling the same. Alternatively, boot the device into Safe Mode to disable third-party apps:

  • Ensure your device's screen is on, then press & hold the Power button.
  • Touch & hold the Power off option in the dialog box.
  • Touch OK in the following dialog to start safe mode.

Note: Avoid running GPS, Wi-Fi and Google Maps services in the background as they are known to drain the battery quickly.

If your network signal reception is bad, try turning on Airplane Mode which can help conserve battery for longer duration. Besides, you can switch off the automatic brightness feature by going to Settings > Display and flipping off Adaptive Brightness.

You may try using a custom launcher such as Nova launcher instead of the stock Google launcher to check if it helps. Grab the Nova launcher from the Google Play Store.

Once again, if the issue persists then try doing a factory reset (see steps above) on your phone.

Android 6.0 data connectivity problems

Broken 3G/LTE or data connectivity is another common problem with Nexus devices, especially after a major software update. You can try placing your device in Airplane mode and then turn it off. This will ensure that all your connections are reset or killed and then restored back to normal.

Alternatively, try removing the SIM card from the device's slot and then put it back as this will help in restoring broken connections on your device. As a last resort, take your device to the nearest mobile service provider.

Android 6.0 Wi-Fi problems

As a preliminary step try restarting your router: Disconnect your router's power cord and reconnect it after a couple of minutes. You may also try rebooting or soft-resetting your router from the router home page (192.168.1.1).

Check your user manual for further instructions on how to soft reset your router. Try reconnecting your Nexus device after the reboot to check if the Wi-Fi connection is restored.

Ensure your router is running the latest software or firmware update. You can check for the latest version from the manufacturer's website. You can try reconnecting your router, once the update completes.

If the issue still persists, forget the Wi-Fi network and then go to Wi-Fi settings via Settings menu or Quick Settings drop down and choose the existing connection. Select Forget and then try reconnecting to the newly identified network.

You may also try changing the Wi-Fi network frequency via Advanced Menu (click on vertical dots), which can be accessed from the top right corner of the screen.

Android 6.0 Bluetooth problems

Try toggling the Bluetooth switch off and then back on again, as this is the most basic step to fix most connection issues with Bluetooth. If the issue persists, choose option to forget the connection by navigating to Bluetooth connections under Settings. Then try reconnecting your device via Bluetooth.

If the issue is limited to Bluetooth connection on your car, just reset it once or try forgetting the connection and then reconnect.

[Source: GottaBeMobile]

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